A comparative study of stability after mandibular advancement surgery

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Orthognathic Surgery
• Biomaterials and Fixation Devices

Background:

• Mandibular advancement surgery is performed to correct skeletal discrepancies.
• The choice of fixation technique can influence postsurgical stability.
• Understanding relapse patterns is crucial for successful treatment outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively evaluate and compare the postsurgical stability of two distinct fixation techniques following mandibular advancement.
• To identify factors influencing relapse rates in patients undergoing mandibular advancement surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 32 patients who underwent mandibular advancement.
• Group 1: 16 patients with rigid osseous fixation.
• Group 2: 16 patients with intraosseous wiring fixation.
• Evaluation of skeletal and dental changes, and relapse rates at short-term and long-term follow-up.

Main Results:

• Both fixation groups exhibited skeletal and dental changes due to adaptation.
• Relapse, defined as a percentage loss of initial advancement, primarily occurred 6 to 8 weeks postsurgically.
• No statistically significant difference in short-term or long-term relapse rates was observed between the rigid fixation and intraosseous wiring groups.

Conclusions:

• The fixation technique (rigid osseous vs. intraosseous wiring) did not significantly impact the relative stability after mandibular advancement surgery in the studied population.
• Individual patient variability appears to be a more significant factor in determining postsurgical stability than the chosen fixation method.
• Further research may explore specific patient-related factors contributing to stability.